EU commits to funding the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic

As the political and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has progressively deteriorated for more than a year now, the European Commission has continued to mobilise its development aid to help people and improve their security.

On 5 December 2013 the Poliitical and Security Committee of the EU endorsed a request from the African Union (dated 21 November 2013) addressed to the European Union for funding of €50 million for the African-led International Support Mission in the CAR (AFISM-CAR).

"The AFISM-CAR will contribute to the stabilization of the country and the protection of local populations, creating conditions conducive to the provision of humanitarian assistance and the reform of the security and defence sector", said European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs.

"I commend the tireless efforts of our African partners to work towards stabilizing the Central African Republic. This latest EU contribution of 50 million euros will help the AFISM-CAR to contribute, in close coordination with the United Nations and other partners, to a resolution of this crisis. I urge the Central African Republic’s transitional authorities to take responsibility for an immediate cessation of hostilities and to implement without delay the transition agreement, to allow the holding of elections and a return to constitutional order by February 2015", added the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-president of the European Commission Catherine Ashton.

Financial support from the EU should be mobilised through the African Peace Facility (part of the European Development Fund - EDF) and should cover the costs of allowances, accommodation and feeding the troops deployed in the field. The salaries of civilian AFISM-CAR personnel and various operational costs such as transport, communication or medical services should also be supported by the Facility. This support will be essential for the proper functioning of the mission.

Although slowed considerably due to the security and institutional situation, the development cooperation of the European Union has never been suspended in CAR. Creating jobs through road maintenance projects, the management of public finances and the restoration of an operational policy that protects the population are among the priorities of EU cooperation with the CAR.

To this end, projects worth €23 million are being prepared using funds from the 10th European Development Fund, and must be decided before the end of 2013. The immediate priority, once security is restored, will be to support the process of transition towards the restoration of democratic institutions and the provision of basic social services to the population.

The European Union is the biggest donor of humanitarian aid to CAR, having more than doubled its contribution this year to €20 million. In recent months it has also reinforced its permanent humanitarian expert team on the ground. Commissioner Georgieva has visited the country twice in the last six months to assess the scale of the humanitarian crisis.

Background: African Peace Facility

The African Peace Facility was created in 2004 in response to the request made by African leaders at the summit of the African Union in Maputo in 2003. Through the African Peace Facility, the EU is at the forefront of international support for peace and security in Africa, providing significant funding for African peace operations. The African Peace Facility supports for instance the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) since 2007 and the international support mission to Mali under African leadership (AFISMA) in 2013. Costs related to military equipment are not covered by the Facility.